Emma Chichester ClarkAndersen Press Age 3-5

Lily loves Blue Kangaroo but when she’s given new toy animals for her birthday, he feels neglected and forgotten. When Kangaroo finds a new friend in Lily’s baby brother, Lily realises just how much Blue Kangaroo means to her. I love you Blue Kangaroo! is a story of a child and her favourite toy which makes connections to all kinds of childhood relationships, (with parents, siblings and friends) as Lily experiences feelings of affection, jealousy and sibling rivalry.

Share the story

Read aloudBefore beginning the story, talk together about the title and the cover. Is there anything unusual about a blue kangaroo? Read the story aloud, stopping to talk about the pictures, what’s happening in the story and how Blue kangaroo might be feeling.

Join inThere’s lots of repetition in the story as Lily repeats descriptions of her presents.

As you re read the story together, encourage children to join in with the repeated phrases and follow the words on the page.

Talk about the storyThe book offers many opportunities for children to think and talk about their own favourite toys and how they feel about them. There’s also an opportunity to talk about presents, why we give them and the presents you can’t buy. What do children think of the ending?

Tell the storyUsing the pictures in the book, children can turn the pages, telling the story in their own words, perhaps using a stick puppet, see below.

Watch the story read aloud

Things to make and do

Make a book

Children can make a zigzag book with drawings of their favourites toys and describe them like Lily does ‘Wiggly Green Crocodile’. Children might have a go at writing themselves or you might help them by writing down what they say and reading it back to them.

Take a photo, make a posterTake a photo of your child with their favourite toy. Stick it on paper. Children can describe it and write who gave it to them, where they keep it, what they like doing together and what is special about the toy.